help him with Philander, if it worked. Also, it would help the Guddus,
for Geek had often grown almost hysterical when complaining about the
terrible hunger they all felt so continuously.

Suddenly Philander sat erect. "I believe we've got a few sacks of
commercial nitrates in the storehouse. Let's experiment and see if they
can use that."

He rose purposefully from his desk and the two hurried to one of the
warehouses. There Philander soon found the sacks of chemical, and Hanlon
carried one as they went to the corral.

"May we try it on my crew first, sir?" he asked anxiously. "They seem to
sort of like me, and I've learned more or less how to guess their
reactions by their facial movements, so I think I could tell whether
they like it or not."

"Sure, that's a good idea," and they went on to the compound that housed
Hanlon's special crew.

Inside, while Hanlon apparently chose at random, it was actually Geck to
whom he beckoned. When the native approached, feigning fear and
reluctance--Hanlon hid a sudden grin at Geck's unexpected acting
brilliance--the young man opened the sack and poured out a little of the
nitrate.

He stooped over and stuck his fingers into the stuff then rose and
gestured to Geck to put his feeding fingers into it the same way.
Meanwhile Hanlon was telepathing the exact information to his friend, as
best he could with his limited ability.

Gingerly Geck stooped, and after a few false starts finally put one of
his fingers into the little pile of nitrate, and activated the feeding
sensories. For a few moments he stood thus, doubtfully, then his manner
clearly indicated joy and surprised happiness. He began working that
little triangular-shaped mouth, and the others crowded closer.

Telepathically he informed Hanlon that this was wonderful--exactly the
food element the natives needed so desperately.

"It seems to think it's all okay," Hanlon said aloud to Philander. "I'll
spread out a little more for them all," and without waiting for
permission he made a long, narrow pile of the fertilizer clear across
the width of the hut. Instantly the rest of the natives crowded along
that line and stuck their feeding fingers into it. Soon their
silly-looking faces expressed their equivalent of blissful smiles of
complete satisfaction, and Hanlon's mind was suffused with thoughts of
pleasure and gratitude for his kindness.

Chapter 17

Superintendent Philander stood watching the natives f